Top JeM terrorist involved in civilian killings shot dead

One of the top commanders of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad was shot dead by the security forces in a counter-insurgency operation in South Kashmir on Wednesday. Acting on specific inputs generated by the by Awantipora Police regarding the presence of terrorists in the Tilwani Mohalla Waggad area of Tral, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, Army and CRPF in the said area.

According to the police, during the search operation, as the presence of the terrorists was ascertained, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender; instead they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which retaliated, leading to an encounter.

“In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. He has been identified as Shamus-ud-Din Sofi alias Sham Sofi, a top commander of proscribed terror outfit JeM,” police said in a statement.

As per police records, the killed terrorist was categorized as active since June 2019, figuring among the list of most wanted terrorists operating in the valley. “He was also part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities to which several terror crime cases are already registered against him,” police said.

According to the information provided by police, Sham Sofi was first arrested in 2004 and detained under Public Safety Act (PSA). He was also involved in providing logistic support, shelter to the active terrorists operating in the Tral area before joining terror folds.

“Moreover, he was also involved in motivating the local youth to join the terror fold, reviving terror in the Tral area and conspiring to destabilize the system by means of various terror acts. Besides, he was also involved in threatening the law-abiding citizens and policemen,” police said.

Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were also recovered from the site of the encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation is in progress. IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar-IPS has congratulated the joint forces for the big success that led to the elimination of most wanted terrorists involved in several terror crime cases.